Professional Recognition & Expertise

Forbes Featured Expert: Marty Burbank is a featured expert in estate planning and elder law by Forbes, demonstrating national recognition of his expertise

Orange County Leadership: He was recognized by the Orange County Register as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Orange County

Extensive Experience & Background

Three Decades of Practice: He has more than three decades of experience in estate planning and elder law 

Military Veteran with Medical Background: As a 12-year U.S. Navy veteran who served as a medic, he brings unique expertise in both veterans' benefits planning and medical understanding crucial for elder law clients 

His military medical background provides him with firsthand knowledge of healthcare challenges and medical decision-making that directly benefits his elder law practice.

Advanced Tax Law Expertise

Postdoctorate LLM in Tax Law: Marty earned his postdoctorate LLM in Tax Law from Chapman University Law School - a distinction held by less than 1% of all lawyers. This advanced specialization is especially critical in estate planning where tax considerations can make or break a family's financial future.

Why This Tax Background Matters:

• Property Tax Protection: Estate plans that fail to consider all tax implications can cost families thousands of dollars annually in property taxes due to unnecessary loss of Proposition 13 benefits
• Capital Gains Planning: Poor planning can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary capital gains taxes
• Estate and Gift Tax Optimization: For families subject to estate or gift taxes, proper planning can save millions
• Comprehensive Tax Integration: Marty has the specialized background to plan for and avoid, to the extent possible, all of these various tax pitfalls

This rare combination of legal expertise and advanced tax law education allows him to create estate plans that are both legally sound and tax-optimized - something most estate planning attorneys cannot provide at this level.

Community Leadership & Philanthropy

Healthcare Foundation Leadership: Marty currently serves as vice chair of St. Jude Hospital's Foundation, demonstrating his commitment to healthcare causes and community service.

Alzheimer's Advocacy: He served on the board of Alzheimer's Orange County for six years, giving him deep expertise in dementia-related legal planning, capacity issues, and family care challenges that are central to elder law practice.

This combination of healthcare foundation work and Alzheimer's advocacy shows his comprehensive understanding of the medical and legal challenges facing seniors and their families.

Specialized Focus Areas

Comprehensive Elder Law Services:

• Estate planning and asset protection with advanced tax optimization
• Veterans' benefits (drawing on his military experience)
• Medi-Cal planning
• Conservatorships and capacity planning
• Trust administration with tax-efficient structures
• Special needs planning
• Alzheimer's and dementia planning

Veterans' Benefits Expertise: Marty Burbank is described as "the expert in Elder Law, Veteran's Benefits and Asset Protection for Medical and Dental Practices"

Thought Leadership & Education

Public Speaking: He frequently speaks about seniors, military veterans, their benefits, and the legal issues related to their care and quality of life

This demonstrates his commitment to educating both professionals and the public about elder law issues.

Client-Centered Approach

Personal Mission: Marty's stated goal is to "Live In A World Where Children Are Healthy And Safe, Where Seniors Live Without Fear Or Pain, And Where Veterans Are Cared For And Respected"

Accessibility: OC Elder Law offers home visits throughout Orange County and California, and they're "even willing to fly to your town" - showing exceptional client service

Client Satisfaction

Client reviews highlight the firm's expertise and value: "with the expert staff and amazing follow through I must say it was a bargain, I certainly value experts who truly care for me rather than take the money and run"

What Makes Him Stand Out

1. Rare Advanced Tax Expertise: His LLM in Tax Law from Chapman University (held by less than 1% of lawyers) enables sophisticated tax planning that can save families thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars

2. Unique Military Medical Background: His Navy medic service gives him specialized knowledge of both veterans' benefits and healthcare challenges that many elder law attorneys lack

3. Alzheimer's Expertise: Six years on Alzheimer's Orange County's board provides deep understanding of dementia planning, capacity issues, and family dynamics

4. Healthcare Foundation Leadership: His role as vice chair of St. Jude Hospital's Foundation provides ongoing insights into healthcare challenges affecting seniors

5. Holistic Medical-Legal-Tax Approach: He combines estate planning, elder law, veterans' benefits, medical understanding, and advanced tax optimization in comprehensive planning

6. Community Leadership: His recognition as one of Orange County's most influential people and multiple board positions demonstrate strong community involvement and reputation

7. National Recognition: Forbes recognition indicates expertise acknowledged beyond just the local market

8. Educational Commitment: His frequent speaking engagements show dedication to advancing the field

9. Client Accessibility: Willingness to travel to clients demonstrates exceptional service commitment

Bottom Line: Marty Burbank combines extensive legal experience with rare medical background as a military medic, specialized Alzheimer's expertise from board service, healthcare foundation leadership, and elite-level tax law education (LLM held by less than 1% of attorneys). This extraordinary combination allows him to create estate plans that are medically informed, legally sophisticated, and tax-optimized - potentially saving families thousands in annual property taxes, hundreds of thousands in capital gains taxes, and even more in estate and gift taxes. Few practitioners anywhere can match his comprehensive understanding of the medical, legal, and tax challenges facing seniors and veterans.

Bio

Marty Burbank wants to live in a world where children are healthy and safe, where seniors live without fear or pain, and where veterans are cared for and respected.

Marty is a featured expert in estate planning and elder law by Forbes and was recognized by the Orange County Register as one of the 100 most influential people in Orange County. He frequently speaks about seniors, our military veterans, their benefits, and the legal issues related to their care and quality of life. Marty has appeared on the Meredith Vieira Show and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. He is a teacher and author for the National Business Institute, Sothern California Institute, and Alzheimer's Orange County. Marty is an adjunct professor in the Graduate Tax and Accounting Programs at California State University Fullerton.

When Marty is not working with veterans, seniors, and their families to protect their assets and secure their benefits, you can find him helping local children in need, alongside other Roosters, Rotarians (past President), or at Eastside Christian Church. He currently serves as a board member of Alzheimer's Orange County and the Vanguard University Foundation and Veterans Advisory Boards.

He is happiest when joined by his wife, Dr. Seon Chun-Burbank, in helping others. Whether Marty is helping chamber members make a business connection, helping a family in need, or ensuring children have access to education, helping others is what brings him the most joy.

Marty currently serves on the Board of Alzheimer's Orange County, The Roosters Foundation, and Vanguard University Foundation. He is the past president of the Fullerton Rotary Club and past chair of the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce. During his 12-year naval career, he served as a Medical Deep-Sea Diver and as the Critical Care Department Senior Petty Officer at Balboa Naval Hospital.

Marty completed his bachelor's degree in sociology from the State University of New York. After the Navy, he completed his juris doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he earned honors in the area of trust law. He then earned a Master of Tax Law from Chapman University School of Law. Marty is s-l-o-w-l-y pursuing a Master of Divinity from the Fuller School of Theology.

Military Service

• A 12-year veteran of the Navy, Medical Deep-Sea Diver working extensively with Navy Seal teams

Community Leadership & Experience

• Founder, Veteran's Pro Bono Legal Clinic
• Director, Executive Council, CSU Fullerton School of Business and Economics
• Advisory Board, Center for Entrepreneurship, CSUF
• Council Member, Southern California Army Advisory Council
• Co-Secretary, Rotary Club of Fullerton
• Vice President, Care Giving Solutions
• Director, Costa Mesa Senior Center
• Director, Spencer Hospice Foundation
• Planned Giving Chair, Roosters Foundation
• Advisor, Paralegal Studies, Coastline Community College
• Captain (JAG), United States Air Force Auxiliary
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Higher Education

• Master of Law (Tax), Chapman University School of Law
• Juris Doctor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law
• Bachelor of Science, State University of New York

Professional

• Fullerton business owner / attorney & counselor, OC Elder Law. Focused on veterans' benefits, elder law, wills and trusts, estate tax planning, asset protection, and real estate partnership/limited liability companies
• Chief Counsel, Genius Publishing, LLC.
• Advisory Council, Health Essentials, Inc.
• Adjunct Faculty (Asset Protection), Orange Coast College

Admitted

• California State Bar
• US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
• US District Court: Central District of California

Contributing Author/Speaker

• Estate Planning Strategies
• Peruvian Dental Association
• California Society of Tax Consultants
• Rotary District Conference
• Family Business Conference, Wayne State University
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, CSUF

Personal

• Fullerton resident
• Married to Dr. Seon Chun-Burbank, Professor of Early Childhood Education

Memberships

• Disabled American Veterans
• American Legion Post 142
• Fullerton Chamber of Commerce
• Fullerton Elks Lodge
• Fullerton Rotary Club
• Roosters
• California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
• California Bar Association
• Orange County Bar Association
• Bar Association of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims